CURE at The University of Alabama

College is a time for new beginnings and a place to find who you are, to join numerous clubs, and try new things. For me, that opportunity came November of 2014, a year and a half into my college experience when I was approached about helping start a CURE chapter on Alabama’s campus. After what seemed like jumping through hoops and praying endlessly, January 2015 brought about the organization and an executive board position for myself. Now 2 years later, I am passing on that exec position and graduating. CURE has been one of the biggest blessings in my life and it is hard to imagine college without it. Sure, it’s been trying, helping build this chapter from the ground up, trying out ideas and not being successful, building a following to the organization and more. But, without a doubt, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. God put this organization into my life for a reason and I know that the new executive members that take over were given this opportunity for the same reason. I have learned too much to even list from this organization. The love for it shows through the network of chapters across the country and the hospitals throughout the world. I encourage you to join this organization and give as much as you can to it. Seeing what we accomplished that first semester and where the chapter is now tells me that I made the right decision to follow God and join this amazing organization. Thinking back, I wish we would have started a chapter sooner because so much can be accomplished through it. While I am sad to leave, I am happy to leave it in the hands of our new exec. I know they will follow God’s lead and do great things for the children in Uganda. It is an organization that I will continue to share with friends and family for years to come. Finally, I pray for our new exec that God blesses them as He blessed me. When times are hard, push through. When you disagree with each other, compromise. When you finally accomplish a goal (which might take 2 years), celebrate. Nothing can compare to the weight you feel knowing that you are not only spreading the Lord’s message, but helping children in Uganda have the childhood you did. With great joy, I pass on this legacy to y’all. I’ll be following the great things you do, supporting you, and praying that you take hold of this opportunity to further the organization to new heights. Thanks for the joys, the laughs, and tears of happiness, but thanks for giving me the biggest thing of all, a faith in God.

Being part of this organization from the start has been such a rewarding and fulfilling experience, but with that being said, it is time for a new Executive Boardto take over and continue this amazing organization. We are opening up the all the positions of CURE Bama President (Jordan's position), Financial Vice President (Malia's position), Spiritual Vice President (Carter's position), and Awareness Vice President (Megan and Nicki's position). We also have a new position, Treasurer! If you have any questions feel free to contact us! These applications are open to anyone passionate about CURE such as current directors, general members, or anyone just looking to get involved. Applications will be open for one week and will close Friday, November 11th at 5 pm. You will be notified if you receive a position within one week of closing. Again, we are so blessed to have been able to start this organization on campus and look forward to the new chapter this Executive Board will begin.

Nelvin is one of the CUREkids being treated in Uganda. He was recovering really well after his surgery, but he has begun to deteriorate over the weekend. Keep this sweet boy and his family in your prayers. For continued update on Nelvin, check out this link: http://cure.org/curekids/uganda/2016/06/nelvin/

Many of you have received an email with links to applications in it, and if you have not join the email list! Applications are due September 30th and you will be notified of the outcomes within two weeks! If you have any questions feel free to contact us at curebama@gmail.com for Jordan and general questions, curebamaawareness@gmail.com for the awareness department/ Nicki and Megan, or curebamafinancial@gmail.com for fundraising and financial/ Malia.

We will be volunteering at Tuscaloosa Emergency Relief Services on Friday, September 16th from 2:30-4:30pm. Sign up on the form below if you are interested! If you need a ride, fill it out on the form below! We are so excited to once again not only help the kids in Uganda but to help those close to home too! If you have any questions contact Carter and Alex at curebamaspiritual@gmail.com

We LOVE T-shirt time here at CURE Bama. This is one of the best ways to show your love for the kids, get our name on campus, and raise money for the CUREkids in Uganda! Shirts are $20 each, and we are accepting all forms of payment (cash, card, venomo [@curebama]). Please consider buying a shirt because they look totally awesome! Reserve yours here, and we will contact you for payment!

One of our fantastic members, John, took a trip to Uganda this summer and got the chance to visit our CURE Hospital! We are so excited that he got to connect with our coordinator who sends us information and pictures about the kids! We cannot wait to hear more about his experience when we get back to school next week!

John outside the front doors of the CURE hospital in Mbale where the focus is on hydrocephalus and spina bifida.

Reflections on Symposium by Jordan Busshaus, President

If I hadn’t believed in the uniting power of the Holy Spirit before, after Symposium there is no doubt in my mind it exists. In a matter of five days, God managed to bring 40 different strangers together as brothers and sisters striving for the same cause: spreading the Gospel through the means of an organization called CURE. The friends I’ve made all over the country spanning from California (shout out to my Cal Poly people) to Virginia (fan ‘em flames), I will continue to stay in contact with, pray for, and even visit in the future. This phenomenon however, only scratches the surface of what God did in five simple days.I truly got to see the heartbeat of CURE International at headquarters. I was overwhelmed by the authenticity and genuine spirit of the organization that longs to reflect Christ, His ministry, His love, and will do whatever it takes to make sure those things are never compromised. The people at HQ go out of their way to do and show love. They served us college students for a week beyond what we could have imagined. From planning and prepping every detail of Symposium Shuffle, to coordinating Skype calls with staff members all over the entire world you could see that months of preparation had taken place to make this week happen. They took their precious time to give us advice and wisdom. They believe in what the Lord is doing in CURE through the University students and want to see us be successful in our efforts at school. I don’t know of any other organization at a corporate level that goes to such intimate lengths.One thing I admire about CURE HQ is that they have never lost sight of prayer, taken it for granted, or underestimated its power. A prayer anchoress, prayer room, and time called “3rd Wednesday Prayer” all help to keep CURE fixed on the truth. Every third Wednesday of each month, a period of time is set aside for all of the workers to come together, give requests, and lift each other up in prayer. We got to experience a 3rd Wednesday Prayer, where in the span of just an hour we were convicted, humbled, encouraged, and loved. I’d like to share what I wrote in my journal that Wednesday night, as I was reflecting on the message the prayer anchoress had given:“Today in 3rd Wednesday prayer the prayer anchoress read from John 14:12-14. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than theses will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”I have read these verses before but they have never convicted me in the way they did this morning. Jesus is talking about how we will carry out His ministry when He leaves to go to the Father, that it will not only be like His works but greater because we will have the Holy Spirit and Jesus pardoning on our behalf in heaven. Did He really just say my works will be greater than His?! Bigger? Wider? More vast?The part that stood out to me the most and in a new way than ever before were verses 13-14. Jesus says whatever we ask in His name it will be done that the Father be glorified. ANYTHING!! Do I really believe that? Do I truly believe that the Lord could do anything in my life? Do I live like that? Do I live with that type of abandon? With TOTAL faith and trust in His power and who He tells me He is?”My prayer life after this message has been completely changed. Rather than praying in hopes that God will maybe, possibly answer my prayers, I now pray with confidence knowing He hears my voice, is capable of doing anything, and will, when it is glorifying to Him, carry out the things of which I have asked. I realized, my problem from the beginning was not that God wasn’t able to do what I asked, but that I was not asking in faith. God cares more about the condition of my heart than the number of works I am able to do for Him.Over this summer as myself and the rest of my team at CURE Bama have prayed boldly to our Father for this upcoming year, what a difference I have seen in the ways God is moving in us and around us. I pray our chapter will be a continuation of the efforts made in HQ to long for the things Jesus did while He was here on earth: to glorify our Father in heaven, love other people, testify to the grace of the Gospel, and heal the sick.

Move In is looking for volunteers from organizations and we get PAID for you helping! We get $20 for every 4 hour shift each of our volunteers work and YOU get a TSHIRT and FOOD! This money can help us have food at meetings, help get the word out about us, and in the long run help the children in Uganda so we would really appreciate it! Here is a little more explaining it!

How does it work?

Volunteers may only work on behalf of one student organization per shift. Each group will receive $20/student/4 hour shift for registered student organizations with The Source.

Students must work the entire shift in order for your organization to receive credit. Students must sign in AND out of all shifts.

Be sure you select a registered student organization when you sign up to volunteer. We will not be able to assign credit to organizations after you have completed your shift without this information.

Below are the dates and times that we provide help to our students to move their personal items into their assigned space on campus. Weekdays are much harder to get volunteers from the community, so if you can serve on those days, that would be great. The dates that we are short on volunteers are highlighted in red. Each shift has a 30 minute training built in. The training just simply allows you the time to check in and get assigned a job.

Each volunteer will receive a volunteer t-shirt. Volunteers who work the morning shift will receive lunch, and volunteers who work the afternoon shift will get snacks and drinks throughout their shift.

*Also if anyone is not in the groupme or closed group Facebook page please let us know and we will add you. As always be checking social media and our new website curebama.weebly.com. Be on the lookout for more volunteer opportunities and spread the word about Get on Board Day!!

We are officially two months away exactly from Get On Board Day so mark your calendars for August 25th around the Ferguson Center from 5-9pm. We will have info about this awesome organization, giveaways, and info about upcoming dates and events! Make sure to follow us on all of our social media (Facebook, twitter and insta) to help win some prizes at GOBD! We hope to see you there!

Members, be on the look out for sign up sheets to help at GOBD and send us your ideas through email or Facebook message.